Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-23
BAR ROOMS AND GUOCERuES.
The Cenamissismets Reply O. the DoarA
81 Tfaae-TAey WIN Enferce Their

TINS afternoon the District Commissioners sent
aleeser TO Nh. Austin Herr president Of the Board
OF Trade. In response to the one from that body
requesting the granting Of liquor licenses to gro
GERS The Commissioners say:
Your application has special reference TO rule q
the instructions to applicants for license TO sell
Intoxicating liquors issued by the Commissioners
october Is, 1857. to take effect upon the expira-
ton Of that month. This rule Is to the effect that
provision stores. 1t was adopted by the Commits
would Be 81
nifty, an because II was needed TO carry
into sffect more completely the true
g! Oi the legislative Assembly Of the District q
Columpia, approved August % 1871, 10 these
liquors where distilled OF
oe drank on the premises, shall unless kept oy
apothecaries, be known as bar room, sample
It cannot be Doubted that this language means
that place where liquor is sold to be drank on the
premises shall be known as bar.roofn, o sample
ecary store kept by an apothecary is the sole
exception under the terms OF this act, and as IL
H inT me- become when s cen 20 sen
Is that all other stores DO become baf-rooms when
they receive licenses 10 that eject.
tinction between Keepers Of bar-rooms, sample
,H1 9s1 az aGd ana dealers in dis.
distilled ana fermented liquors are required TO pay
provided that no license SHAH be for less sum
e nSSoss m less O Saa ssss
than 2 pint. The Commissioners are satisfied
that this legislative enactment makes dis
sample. rooms ana tipping houses and dealers in
distilled and iermehtsd liquors as merchandise,
ana mat the fact that these liquors are sold to be
drank upon the premises In one instance creates
the distinction upon which the law Is based
II Is stated in your communication that rule 2
a g make sS ia ss sats Ia
upon the applicants for license for the year just
begun II the Commissioners are correct in their
question, it has been the law, ever since 1871.
where liquor was sold q Be drank upon the PREM
acter OF bar-room, sample-room or tipping
house " may be that the provisions OF the act In
question have been allowed TO fail into disuse,
put IL cannot properly be urged that the present
commissioners should ignore, on that account, the
act, II being their imperative duty to enforce to
the best OF their ability, every law which they are
satlsnel Is operative, in accordance With what
seems TO them to be Its reasonable Interpretation
your apprehension Of pecuniary loss to indi-
viduais as result of the application OF the law,
has great force with the Commissioners qualified,
however, by sincere belief on their part that tho
pest interests OF the community demand that the
provision store should cease to exist In the District
OF Columbia. This conclusion they have reached
after very careful consideration OF the numerous
complaints growing out OF this most Objectionable
combination. These complaints show that 1t Is
responsible for many and continued violations OF
the liquor laws; Is demoralizing In It's effects upon
women and children, who, wishing the grocery TO
purchase needed supplies, are made familiar with
the concomitanls OF Dar-rOom; and Is often o
source OF annoyance and dread 10 a neighborhood,
whose peace is nightly disturbed by drunken
brawls.
The police find the d,nnculties usually atten.
dant upon the enforcement or the laws relating To
the traffc In spirituous liquors increased q hun
dred1Old In these places and every consideration
tihuance.
In response, therefore, to your communication,
the commissioners are compelled to announce, as
their nnal decision that retail licenses win be
fused IN ali cases where the baf-r0Om, the sample
room, or the tippng-house is to be kept In comb.
nation with grocery or provision store The
bar-room, sample-room or tippiing- house must in
al cases De separate and distinct from and have
no means OF communication with the grocery Oh
provision store and The entrance TO the bar-room
sanpie-roofn, or tipping house must In all cases
De IRON an avenue or street, not from an alley. Oh
course 1t is understood that tine laws and regula-
tons relating 10 retail licenses will be enforced In
all cAsnsn